What’s Wrong With (Always) Being Right?

Wednesday, May 31st, 2017

Some of the most annoying people are those whom, no matter the circumstance, are always right. They always have a ready excuse, an ‘out’ when things go wrong, it’s never their fault. They are always right.

People hate being wrong. We like to be at our best, do our best, but at the end of the day, we are mere mortals. We screw up. And we don’t know everything. So how do you guard yourself against ever developing this kind of an attitude?

Acknowledge your limitations: A dose of reality is necessary if you desire to be an effective leader. While your expertise can be strong in one area, chances are you are not an ‘expert’ in every area. That’s why you have to listen, collaborate, and tap into the skills of your colleagues and defer to them. You don’t know everything so quit acting like it.

Focus on doing right, not always being right: When you make the shift from always ‘being’ right to ‘doing’ right, it will significantly change the way you look at things – and it will actually be a liberating force in your life. The self-imposed pressure of always being right frees you up to do right. It’s when you focus on doing right that you will experience growth in your leadership. It’s a mark of maturity. With nothing to prove and no compulsion to always be right, you can now focus on more important things like being a servant leader instead of protecting your ego.

Be humble and teachable: Personal growth and development will rarely happen within the ‘know it all’ or ‘always right’ bubble or mindset. There’s no room for it. Not because there’s nothing more to learn, but because this person believes that he or she is already there. It’s a dangerous mindset to have as a leader.

Summing-up: Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. For the sake of your own personal development, and those whom you lead, be teachable and walk humbly.